Hello all you Redwall fans. Unfortunately, I do not own Redwall – as you know – and I've never said that I did *Votucu sticks her tongue out at you* so you can't sue me. Here's Chapter 4 (at last!) and I hope that it lives up to any heights that you may have set for it.

Votucu

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Chapter 4: Dreams and Riddles

Straight away, Bryony's head snapped up. What had happened? Where had Martin gone? Why did he come to her? What did he say to her and why did she feel that she needed to remember it? She laid her head down again and tried to think about the confusing dream that had come to her. But she could not think because of a soft boom… boom… boom. She sat up again and looked at what her head was laid against. The dark fur of Veil's chest was the first thing she saw. As she sat up she could see all of him. He was breathing lightly and she concluded that the soft thudding was his heart beat. Then it hit her. Veil is alive! She sat upright and looked around. The female badger was sitting in her huge rocking chair, observing her movements. The smaller badger (who Bryony still perceived as being huge) was curled up next to the chair, sleeping very soundly.

"I know that he lives, young one. My son did not hit him as hard as he thought and the ferret came around just before midnight" the old badger said softly "he was angry at first but softened when he heard that you were all right and safe"

Bryony curtsied slightly and thanked her for her hospitality and help.

"I am yet to introduce myself, forgive me" she added cautiously "I am Oakfree of Southsward, but I haven't lived there since my sister Muta was invited into the House of Gael and I wasn't... Because I was pregnant with our second cousin's son when she was to be partnered with him" She sounded wistful and it made Bryony want to try and comfort her. But she couldn't think how. So she changed the subject.

"I am Bryony of Redwall Abbey, but I am travelling with my friend Veil to Salamandastron to meet the Badger Lord currently living there in order to find out all that we can of Veil's father, the Warlord Swartt Sixclaw"

"Ah, Salamandastron, the fabled Mountain of the Fire Dragon" Oakfree mused.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Bryony asked suddenly, some of the Badgerwoman's words had caused a flicker of a memory, though she had no idea where from.

"The age-old name of the mountain is Mountain of the Fire Dragon, because of the flames which shoot out of its top"

Bryony's eyes clouded up a bit and she sat down slowly, staring at Veil's sword. Then she spoke

"The mountain of the fire lizard is where you will meet

A badger, which has overcome many hard feats,

He will help you with your quest

To find a ferret, a leader of the best,

Murderers, plunderers and merciless beasts

Who will give a good fight, to say the least.

Now listen carefully to what I say

My first is first in Tree and in the Water, but not in the Spears

My second is second in Branch, but not in its Leaves or fox Seers

My third and fourth are two the same in the Reeds

My fifth is third in Bulrush and also appears in Leaves

But my fifth is never in the evil Snake.

My sixth is second in the big Lake,

Which you will have to overtake.

My seventh is third in the journey you will have to Make

My last is Easy, at the start.

Now continue young mouse, and do not give up

I will be with you no matter what.

Just heed my words and accept my help,

Leave you, I will ever not"

She sat up straight again and paused for a while to clear the daze from her head. As she was, she was aware of a faint scratching sound, and looked around as her vision started to return to normal again. Sitting at her desk, writing furiously, was the Badgerwoman, Oakfree. She paused and leaned back from the old piece of parchment in order to look at her work. Then she stood up and walked over to Bryony.

"Well, that's a right old mess if there ever was one" Oakfree and Bryony turned to look at the ferret who was sitting up and clutching his head, where he had quite a large lump forming.

"Oh, Veil, I thought you were dead!" Bryony clutched him close.

"Yeah, no thanks to that big striped lump that gave me this lump" He muttered sourly.

"Hush, now, we're both safe and well thanks to our new friends, Oakfree of Southsward and Oaklen, son of Oakfree"

"So, what's this rhyme that you concocted while I was sleeping, eh?"

"I didn't make it up, martin the Warrior visited me in a dream and said that to me, but I could only just remember what he said"

"Yes, I wrote it down when I heard the part about 'Now listen carefully to what I say'" Interjected Oakfree, handing Bryony the piece of parchment "I think I got the first bit right, but I had to guess because I only started writing half way through"

Veil peered at the flowing script and commented "yes, this is what I remember, well done Oakfree!"

"Oooh, rare praise, indeed. You might want to get that in writing, Oakfree!" Bryony teased, poking Veil in his side.

"So, how are we going to solve this one, eh, mother?" Veil cheeked back, his mother comment startling Oakfree.

"Mother?" she asked cautiously.

"Veil's just kidding, I used to look after him when we lived at the Abbey because he was orphaned into our home" Bryony said.

"Oh…." She looked upset and wistful again.

"Oakfree, come with me for a small while" Bryony suggested, pulling the great badger's arm towards a dark room of the cave.

When they reached there, they sat down. Then Bryony asked Oakfree a question that the badger had been dodging all her life.

"Is there something about your family that you have not been telling me, Oakfree?"

The badger sighed, as if getting ready to tell a long and painful tale. Bryony sat in silence as she listened to the sorrowful badger's tale of hate, tragedy and being let-down.

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*Sniff, sniff* what happened to poor Oakfree? Will you ever find out? Heehee, you might not! Then again, I might be able to concoct a good enough sop story to appear during the story…

C'ya

Votucu